Beginner

Suited for a wide range of uses, Level 1 Beginner telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Featuring a 102mm, f/6.5 achromatic objective lens and a GoTo database of over 4,000 objects, the Orion StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor Telescope is capable of showing you and your family spectacular views of celestial curiosities on any clear night. Thanks to its straightforward SkyAlign alignment technology, motorized mount, and computerized GoTo system, the StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor is easy for anyone to use - no matter how familiar or unfamiliar you may be with the night sky.

Using SkyAlign to align the StarSeeker's computerized GoTo system is delightfully easy. All you have to do is enter basic information into the hand controller like the date, time, and your location. Then use the hand controller buttons to point the telescope to any three bright stars in the sky. Unlike many other GoTo systems, SkyAlign does not require you to enter the names of the stars used for alignment, so you don't have to hassle with star charts to determine a star name. This makes it nice and easy for anyone to align the telescope in minutes - even if you do not know the name of a single star in the sky.

Once the easy alignment process is completed, the computerized GoTo system can locate and point the attached refractor telescope to more than 4,000 celestial objects with a few button pushes on the illuminated handheld controller. You'll be able to find fascinating objects to view on every clear night! Once an object is located, the StarSeeker II will automatically track the object's apparent motion across the sky and keep it centered in the telescope eyepiece so you can enjoy the view for as long as you wish until you move on the next object. Beginners will especially appreciate the built-in Sky Tour feature, which commands the StarSeeker II 102mm to find the most interesting objects in the sky and automatically aims the telescope at each one. Both experienced astronomers and "newbies" will have fun exploring the comprehensive database of over 4,000 celestial objects, which includes the planets, Moon, and customized lists of all the best deep-sky objects, bright double-stars, and variable stars to observe. Regardless of your previous astronomy experience, the Orion StarSeeker 102mm GoTo Refractor Telescope will turn you into an instant astronomer!

You'll get sharp views with the StarSeeker II's 102mm-aperture (4"), 660mm focal length (f/6.5) refractor optics. It comes with an assortment of useful accessories, including a 2" rack-and-pinion focuser for use with 1.25" or optional wide-field 2" telescope eyepieces, and an Orion EZ Finder II reflex sight to aid in centering initial alignment stars. Two 1.25" Explorer II telescope eyepieces are also included for two magnification options right out of the box! The included 25mm eyepiece provides 26x magnification, while the 10mm Kellner eyepiece yields 66x for more powerful explorations. Views of the overhead night sky will be comfortable thanks to the included 1.25" star diagonal. For daytime use, an optional 1.25" correct-image diagonal (sold separately) can be inserted to give views proper daytime orientation. An included serial cable allows you to update the hand controller's firmware via computer when updates become available. A handy accessory tray attaches directly to the adjustable-height tripod so you can keep all your eyepieces and other accessories ready and within reach. A battery holder is included which holds 8 AA batteries (batteries sold separately) for powering the StarSeeker II.

Thanks to its versatile combination of motorized GoTo electronics, substantial 102mm aperture, and moderate f/6.5 optics, the Orion StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor is an ideal instrument for lunar and planetary astrophotography. The computerized StarSeeker II also makes a great video astrophotography telescope, and can even be used to capture short exposures of brighter deep sky objects with great results.

The included single-arm GoTo altazimuth mount features a dovetail attachment saddle which makes it easy to attach and remove the refractor telescope tube without using tools. The dovetail attachment saddle also allows you to use other telescope tubes equipped with a compatible dovetail mounting plate.

Weighing just 14 lbs. fully assembled, this telescope is portable enough to take along just about anywhere. Amaze your friends with views of celestial delicacies at your next dinner party, or go on deep space adventures during your next family campout - it's easy to do with the StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor.

StarSeeker II requires power from 8 AA batteries (not included), an optional 12V field battery, or an optional AC-to-DC power adapter. A battery holder is included which holds 8 AA batteries.

Warranty

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for two years from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.

User level

Level 1 Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, these telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 2 Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 3 Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Level 4 Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece.
Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens.
Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Optical diameter

For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.

For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.

Focal length

The distance from the center of a curved mirror or lens at which parallel light rays converge to a single point. The focal length is an inherent specification of a mirror or lens and is one of the factors in determining resultant magnification for a telescope (along with the focal length of the eyepiece being used).

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

Coatings

Binocular lenses and prisms are often coated with anti-reflective material to minimize light loss as light travels through the multiple optical surfaces of a typical binocular. Coatings help maximize the amount of light transmitted through each glass surface of a binocular, so as much light as possible reaches the observer's eyes to provide a bright and sharp image.

Good lenses are at least "fully coated," with a single layer of magnesium fluoride coating applied to each air-to-glass lens surface. Multiple layers of coatings are even more effective; the term "multi-coated" means one or more air-to-glass lens surface has multiple coatings. "Fully multi-coated" optics are even better, meaning all lens surfaces have multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings applied for maximum light transmission and optimal image quality.

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration.
Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Glass material

Refractors use glass lenses to focus the light, and the glass material plays an important role in the quality of the resulting image. Standard achromatic refractors routinely use Crown and Flint for the two elements, but more expensive apochromatic refractors can use ED (extra low dispersion) glass for one or more of the lenses. Reflector mirrors are made from glass with different levels of thermal expansion. Standard mirrors are made from material such as Soda-Lime Plate glass and BK-7 glass. Glass with Pyrex or other low thermal expansion material will not change shape as dramatically during the cool-down period, resulting in more stable images during this period.

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification.
But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Orders received by noon Pacific Time for in-stock item the same business day. Order received after noon will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!